Henry County is a county located in the western portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,946. Its county seat is Clinton. The county was organized December 13, 1834, as Rives County but was renamed in 1841 for Revolutionary War patriot Patrick Henry. The county originally had been named after William Cabell Rives, who was then serving as a U.S. Senator from Virginia. However, Rives lost popularity in Missouri after he joined the Whig Party.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (4.8%) is water.

Adjacent counties Johnson County (north) Pettis County (northeast) Benton County (east) St. Clair County (south) Bates County (west) Cass County (northwest)

Major highways Route 7 Route 13 Route 18 Route 52

Transit Jefferson Lines

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 21,946. The median age was 44.7 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.8 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 91.2% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.

40.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 59.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 9,253 households in the county, of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 10,693 housing units, of which 13.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.2% were owner-occupied and 29.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 21,997 people, 9,133 households, and 6,246 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 10,261 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.61% White, 1.02% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Approximately 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,133 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,949, and the median income for a family was $36,328. Males had a median income of $27,932 versus $19,201 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,468. About 11.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

Racial and ethnic composition +Henry County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)19,26719,54521,15721,23019,80097.94%97.51%96.18%95.32%90.22%Black or African American alone (NH)2272272122191771.15%1.13%0.96%0.98%0.81%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)5781150101890.29%0.40%0.68%0.45%0.41%Asian alone (NH)16465052910.08%0.23%0.23%0.23%0.41%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census5136xx0.02%0.06%0.03%Other race alone (NH)12198670.06%0.00%0.04%0.04%0.31%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census2132801,143xx0.97%1.26%5.21%Hispanic or Latino (any race)931442013695730.47%0.72%0.91%1.66%2.61%Total19,67220,04421,99722,27221,946 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

Education

Public schools Calhoun R-VIII School District– Calhoun Calhoun Elementary School (K-06) Calhoun High School (07–12) Clinton School District – Clinton Clinton Early Childhood Center (PK) Henry Elementary School (K-02) Clinton Intermediate School (03–05) Clinton Middle School (06–08) Clinton High School (09–12) Davis R-XII School District – Clinton Davis Elementary School (K-08) Henry County R-1 School District – Windsor Windsor Elementary School (PK-06) Windsor High School (07–12) Lakeland R-III School District – Deepwater/Lowry City Actually located in St. Clair County Lakeland Elementary School (PK-06) Lakeland High School (07–12) Leesville R-IX School District – Clinton Leesville Elementary School (K-08) Montrose R-XIV School District – Montrose Montrose Elementary School (K-08) Montrose High School (09–12) Shawnee R-III School District – Chilhowee Shawnee Elementary School (K-08)

Private schools Windsor Amish Schools – Windsor (01–08) – Amish St. Mary's School – Montrose (01–08) – Roman Catholic Holy Rosary Catholic School – Clinton (PK-08) – Roman Catholic Clinton Christian Academy – Clinton (K4-12) – Nondenominational Christian

Public libraries Henry County Library Lenora Blackmore Branch of Henry County Library

Politics

Local The Democratic Party historically controls politics at the local level in Henry County. However, recent gains by Republicans have made Henry County a decidedly Republican stronghold, holding almost all positions in the county.

State + Past Gubernatorial Elections Results Year Republican Democratic Third Parties202474.17% 7,95723.56% 2,5272.28% 244202074.00% 7,92824.02% 2,5741.98% 212201659.40% 5,58237.51% 3,6953.09% 304201242.14% 4,27753.85% 5,4303.74% 377200835.70% 3,93561.79% 6,8102.51% 277200450.47% 5,47148.29% 5,2351.23% 134200045.63% 4,42052.36% 5,0722.01% 194199634.41% 3,13562.70% 5,7122.89% 263

All of Henry County is a part of Missouri's 57th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Rodger Reedy (R-Windsor), who was elected in 2018.

All of Henry County is a part of Missouri's 31st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Ed Emery (R-Lamar).

Federal

All of Henry County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Political culture

Communities Cities

Blairstown Brownington Calhoun Clinton (county seat) Deepwater Montrose Urich Windsor

Villages La Due Tightwad

Census-designated place Hartwell

Unincorporated communities

Bowen Coal Finey Garland Germantown Huntingdale Leesville Lewis Lucas Maurine Mount Zion Petersburg Piper Quarles Roseland Shawnee Mound

Townships

Bear Creek Bethlehem Big Creek Bogard Clinton Davis Deepwater Deer Creek Fairview Fields Creek Honey Creek Leesville Osage Shawnee Springfield Tebo Walker White Oak Windsor

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Henry County, Missouri

References

Further reading Lamkin, Uel. A History of Henry County, Missouri (1919) full text

External links Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Henry County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books